“Are you still looking for a location or are you going to go the mobile store route?”
Asking Hadley about the business plans she has with Dakota, her friend and the person who does most of the selling of the treats where Hadley is the baker, always gets her talking. She has so many dreams. I love that about her and part of me envies it as well.
Her face lights up, “It’s going okay. I don’t think we’re ready for a storefront. Not yet. I think the van is good for now, but I need to do some more testing and research before I can make enough variety for a whole store.”
She rolls her eyes self-deprecatingly, as if she should be able to jump into some billion-dollar business right from the gate. I giggle and shake my head, reminding her, “It’s one step at a time, Hads. You have customers, it will grow when you set up the van. See what the demand is and then who knows?”
She nods thoughtfully, gnawing her bottom lip as she mulls over my words. “You would know,” there’s a tease to her voice when she looks at me again, “you’re the one running a successful café.”
I bark out a laugh. “I’m just the manager here. It’s not like it’s my business or anything.”
Hadley blows a raspberry which has me laughing harder. “I have no doubt that if you weren’t the manager here, business would not be as good as it is. You are just as much a draw as the coffee because it’s clear you take pride in your job and in your work.”
I feel tears sting my eyes, which is so fucking silly I almost laugh at myself, but her words touch me. It’s what I hope everyone feels when they come here, but to hear Hadley say it is something else altogether. A very good something else.
I point at her drink and wink at her, “That’s on me today, compliments are the best currency.”
Hadley pulls out a bag of dog treats and puts it on the counter. “Good thing I can pay in dog treats.”
I clutch the bag to my chest, a smile on my face, knowing how excited Boomer will be when I get home. He has made going home to an empty apartment, where the loneliness is the worst, bearable.
Hadley tilts her head to the side. “How’s it going with your neighbor?” She winces, “Has it gotten better?”
I huff out a breath and shake my head, narrowing my eyes at the thought of my neighbor, Anderson, who doesn’t know a damn thing about being neighborly. It would be great if his attitude wasn’t so damn hostile because he really is the most attractive man I’ve ever met in my entire life.
And yes, I’m saying that having met rock stars and some men who really do look too good to be real. I think it’s the tattoos on the artists at the shop around the corner, but they really are all hot men. It doesn’t make any sense, but they’ve got nothing on Anderson.
My very serious and full of complaints neighbor isn’t super muscular, he’s lanky with a permanent scowl on his face. I have no explanation for it, but he simply does it for me.
Nothing can ever happen between us, even if he was attracted to me, which he isn’t, because he hates my dog. Hates him. Who hates a dog?
I’m pretty sure he’s not my biggest fan either, considering all the complaints he has about my life, the way I live it and the way it encroaches on his. It’s not like I’m going out of my way to make his life harder.
I can’t stop Boomer from barking when I’m not there.
Ever since he complained about my music, I’ve been keeping it down.
I can’t stop the alarm thing. I wish I could, but I can’t. I need to get up and be at work at a certain time. Waking up has never been easy for me. I need the loud ass alarm I have, it’s the only one which has ever worked and I’m afraid of trying a new one.
What if I don’t get up in time?
“No,” I growl my answer and then take a deep breath, letting it out slowly. I’m not going to let thoughts of Anderson be the rainclouds on my day. Nope. Not happening. I sigh. “It hasn’t gotten better, but he hasn’t complained in,” I pause and think about it and smile, “five days. Maybe it is getting better then,” I muse.
The realization makes me feel lighter. Maybe things are looking up. I hope so because it really bums me out when Anderson complains, especially about things I don’t know how to fix. I’ve left those puzzle balls for Boomer, hoping it’ll occupy him. On my off days, I’ve tried alarms on my phone, to see if I could stop using the clock which sounds like an air raid siren.
Honestly, the music complaint was the easiest, but it’s not as if I ignored his other ones.
Hadley grins at me, determination in her voice, “You’ll win him over. Just flash him your gorgeous smile and turn on the charm.”
I snort, “The charm? I’ve tried to be charming and understanding.”
She points out, “Maybe it’s worked if he hasn’t complained in a few days.”
I shrug and bemoan, “Who knows, but I’m going to count it as a win.”
“You should.” She gives a decisive nod and then her eyes light up. “Oh! I almost forgot to thank you for sending me some new business?” When my eyebrows furrow together in confusion she supplies, “Kat and Grayson? Dakota dropped treats off for them the other day and Kat already emailed us to let us know how much their dogs love them.”
My friend, someone who really does deserve it, finding success makes my whole body warm. I reach across the counter and give her hand a squeeze. “I’m so glad. You deserve all the customers you get.”
I mean every single word. Not only is she a good person, but her passion is providing something for the dogs people love and consider part of their family. Just like Boomer is for me. In so many ways, he’s saved my life and given me a new purpose.
Would a man in my life be nice too? Sure, but he’ll have to love Boomer as much as I do. So, why does Anderson’s face swim through my head?
He clearly doesn’t like Boomer. He’s not the man for me.
Long after Hadley leaves and it gets busy again as I work side by side with Ruth, the thought of Anderson not being mine swims through me. I find I need to shake off the feeling of doom and gloom at knowing it’ll never be.